More than 2,300 UMKC students participated in commencement exercises at Kauffman Stadium in May, and many of them went straight from campus to ballpark to the first stage of a rewarding career.
Meet four members of the UMKC Class of 2021 – and one who returned to celebrate her 2020 graduation in a pandemic-delayed ceremony.
Courtney Collins ’21
Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Where will you be working, and what excites you about this opportunity to launch a career?
I will be doing the Estee Lauder summer internship. There are about 100 interns from across the country that are placed on teams. Estee Launder has 25 to 30 brands in everything from cosmetics to skincare to fragrances. I will be the marketing intern for two of the luxury fragrance brands. Some of my responsibilities will include working with budding influencers and learning and reviewing customer insights. I’m excited to put what I have learned at UMKC into practice and hopefully have a full-time offer by the end of summer.
How did your UMKC education make this possible?
I made a ton of great connections through the Bloch School. I completed a full-time internship with SkillPath in Kansas City. I was also on executive boards for both a business fraternity and a social sorority. Those helped to really round out my experiences on campus and helped me develop skills that were easily translatable in interview situations. In the spring of 2020 I completed a study abroad program in Spain where I was able to take an international marketing class. My professors abroad were super helpful in giving insight on the international marketing industry, so that helped open up a door for me that I could pursue.
What are your long-term career goals?
I had this running joke with my friends, because UMKC has so many specific programs like pre-law and pre-med, I would tell people that I’m pre-CEO. It’s what I would love to do, be a leader of a group or an organization. It’s truly humbling to be in those positions. I would also love to be a brand manager or do something in the creative field. But in the long run I would love to potentially start my own company.
"Because UMKC has so many specific programs like pre-law and pre-med, I would tell people that I’m pre-CEO." —Courtney Collins
Jacob Furry ’21
Conservatory
Where will you be working, and what excites you about this opportunity to launch a career?
I'll be teaching K-5 general music at Welborn Elementary School in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. I'm looking forward to applying what I've learned during my time at UMKC to my own classroom this fall! I'll be teaching music to more than 500 kids at Welborn, which seems a bit daunting, admittedly, but I'm confident it will be very fulfilling. It's inspiring how much KCKPS supports the arts, and I'm excited to start my career within that community.
How did your UMKC education make this possible, in terms of classes, extracurriculars, internships, service-learning opportunities, networking opportunities, etc.?
The thoroughness of the curriculum in the music education program at UMKC and the overwhelming support I've received from the faculty has allowed me to approach my first year of teaching with confidence. I know I don't have all the answers, and that I'll undoubtedly struggle as a first-year teacher, but UMKC has given me mentors and colleagues that I can always lean on for support.
One of my favorite things about the music education program at UMKC is the large amount of time pre-service teachers are able to spend in real classrooms. During my time at UMKC, I had observation/student teaching placements in four schools across three districts in the KC metro area, ranging K-12. These placements offered a wide breadth of experiences working with many different kinds of students, allowing me to figure out exactly what I enjoyed doing the most. I landed on teaching elementary music!
"I had an amazing experience with undergraduate research while a student at UMKC, and I was even able to present my work at a national music education conference this year." — Jacob Furry
What are your long-term career goals?
I definitely plan on going back to school in the future. I had an amazing experience with undergraduate research while a student at UMKC, and I was even able to present my work at a national music education conference this year. I've found that education is a very dynamic field. We're always learning new and better ways to help students succeed, and I loved being able to make a small contribution to that evolving knowledge base through my own research. After I get some real-world teaching experience under my belt, I'd love to do more of that.
Tami Greenberg ’20
Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Greenberg has served as CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City for six years, and will continue in that role after earning an Executive Master of Business Administration degree.
Where will you be working, and what excites you about this opportunity to enhance your career?
I undertook the Executive MBA journey not to “launch” my career, but to enhance and strengthen it. I am excited about demonstrating in my daily role the things I learned in the program, including leadership, strategy, business acumen, financial management, advocacy, marketing, innovation, influence and persuasion.
How did your UMKC education make this possible?
I enjoyed how we moved through in a cohort learning model. Our group became very close, and we learned not just from our professors and classes, but also from one another. I believe strongly that “sharp knives make each other sharper,” and I am grateful for all the “sharp knives” I got to know through my UMKC executive education. And I would be remiss if I did not mention all the extraordinary guest speakers – I felt lucky to have such access to the leaders who visited our program. One of the promises of the EMBA at UMKC is “you learn something on Saturday, that you put into practice the following Monday.” I found that to be true while I was actively in the program, and it continues to be true now.
What are your long-term career goals?
It is an honor and privilege to keep families close to their seriously ill children. With three Ronald McDonald Houses and a Ronald Family Room here in Kansas City, we serve 87 families with sick kids every night. My long-term career goals are to be the best possible leader for this organization, to ensure that we are delivering our mission with excellence and care, and to maintain the highest possible business standards in leading this team and this work.
Fiona Isiavwe ’21
Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Tell me how you found the job opportunity with Deloitte, what is your title there and what excites you about this opportunity to launch your career?
I will be starting off as an audit assistant with Deloitte. I was on the executive board of four student organizations, serving part-time as a Supplemental Instruction Leader and enrolled in 15 credit hours, while maintaining a 4.0 cumulative GPA when a national recruiter with Deloitte reached out to me via Handshake. Deloitte is filled with some of the brightest minds across the globe. I am excited to be able to work alongside such incredibly talented people, learn and continually challenge myself, and have fun during the process!
How did your UMKC education make this possible, in terms of classes, extracurriculars, internships, service learning opportunities, networking opportunities, etc.?
I remember when I was first scouted by my recruiter, she remarked that my Handshake profile had stood out to her from the others. My access to Handshake was provided through the UMKC Bloch career services department. My academic achievements were a testament to the academic resources available at UMKC. At the Bloch school, I was surrounded by faculty who believed in me and took the time to mentor and encourage me.
In addition, the academic resources available like Supplemental Instruction, the tutoring center, writing studio and labs were of huge help to my academic success and I found the networking opportunities organized by the Bloch school to be worthwhile. I remember always leaving feeling ignited upon listening to the experiences of Bloch alumni and guests. Their stories made me feel like my dreams were valid, possible, and attainable.
"I want others to see that their hopes and dreams are valid, possible, and attainable." — Fiona Isiavwe
What are your long-term career goals?
I am grateful for this opportunity and hope to work my way up, gaining as much insight as I can along the way. I hope to venture into special projects back home in Nigeria and across the globe, give back and be a testament to those in positions where I once was. I want others to see that their hopes and dreams are valid, possible, and attainable.
Emma Stark ’21
School of Nursing and Health Studies
Stark will be working at North Kansas City Hospital as a nurse technician until she takes her Nursing Licensure Exam and will then start her role as a critical care nurse.
Where will you be working and what excites you about this opportunity to launch a career?
I will be working at North Kansas City Hospital as a critical care float nurse, working in the hospital’s various intensive care units as well as the emergency department. I am excited to continue working on the front lines serving the greater Kansas City area. Nursing is an ever-changing and growing career field and I am excited to continue learning every day.
How did your UMKC education make this possible?
UMKC opened many doors for me within my field. I was provided almost double the clinical hours of many other programs and this allowed me to develop connections with many leaders within the nursing profession. UMKC also made sure I was able to experience different nursing settings and hospitals so I could determine my passion. My first-ever clinical placement is actually how I discovered North Kansas City Hospital and fell in love with their mission.
What are your long-term career goals?
I know I want to pursue higher education. I want to help reform the health care system in our country and make health care more accessible to the entire population. I have a passion for helping people and I specifically want to make a difference in impoverished and underserved communities.